Contributors to this thread:
ONE- the number of baths I took from 9-7 to 9-24
TWO- nites spent on the mountain...no sleeping bag or tent. Just layed down where the hunt ended.
THREE-arrows lost or destroyed on the hunt.
FOUR-trips it took to pack my elk out
FIVE-days of driving to and from
SIX-number of bulls I saw that were bigger than the one I killed.
SEVEN-number of days hunting once I got locked in on an area
EIGHT-miles packing out my bull.
THURTEEN-number of days I slept in the back of the truck.
TWENTY-rough estimate of the number of elk I saw on this trip.
FOURTY-yards my bull traveled before tipping over.
I used one turkey call that I modified to make the sounds I wanted. I removed the snakes tongue from the center leaving a cutter to one side and a double on the other. Bugles started on the cutter with light tongue pressure and moved to the double side while increasing pressure to create the squeal and ended back on the cutter. Cow calls started on the double and ended in your he center. Chuckles...I can't describe what I did to create them but they sounded pretty good to me. Glunks were natural voice, popping my throwght like a clearing of it when a lugie is hung up down deep. All calls into a plastic bat with the ends cut out. Bulls answered me but would not answer other bulls so I guess I was doing something right. I called 3 in but one busted me while I made a move to get the wind.
You know - I have always considered myself a fisherman first (with preference for saltwater), and your adventure reminds me a lot of myself. When I was younger, and before there was internet, I read every fishing magazine cover to cover, as reading every F&S and Sports Afield when I was a kid. Give me a text book to read on Algebra back in those days, I would fall asleep and retain nothing. But those magazines, all filed into the cerebral vault, all still there. So when I got older and finally started visiting tropical locales, I knew what to pack. I rented my own boats, I put my son and myself onto some amazing experiences fishing reefs, ledges, and flats all throughout the Bahamas over the years. Never been there before - but I knew exactly what to do - just like you knew what to do because you are first and foremost a HUNTER and you also did your research. As much as I love bowhunting, give me a choice of retiring in Florida Keys or Bahamas, versus a 200 acre private piece in Iowa prime, or Montana, Wyoming, etc, I would probably go with the Tropics. (ideally have BOTH of course).
Anyway- I cannot congratulate you enough for what you did. Not only did you do it by yourself, you brought along an entire website with you. Not easily done! Sort of like a "live mobile hunt - on steroids" !
Has ANY Yankees garnered such attention? Hmmm. Mike
Congrats on your kill! The biggest key to your success, in my opinion, was time. You had your tactics figured out and after trial and error you got them dialed in and filled the tag. Way to go.
So you spent 7 days hunting eight miles in and only slept two nights there? You walked eight miles out and back in in the morning 4-5 times?
I think it was 1 mile from the truck so it was a 2 mile round trip. 4 trips and you got your 8 miles.
Cool recap of stats. Next, I think folks would like a recap of the hunt in which you scored on your bull. Time of day, circumstances, shot placement, etc.
>>>>----thanks--- & congratulations again---->
"Has ANY Yankees garnered such attention? Hmmm."
I could start a post on Derek Jeter - now there is CLASS PERSONIFIED!
Actually 2 miles deep...4 trips = 8 miles packing. I was unpacked on the return trips.
Congrats on walking the walk
Lets just say you mean you only had the bull ON YOUR BACK for 8 miles.
Not hating! Just trying to make heads or tails out of ElkIKnow facts.
Congrats on your adventure and success. I'll give you props for getting it donE, no one can dispute that. Since you included it as one of your facts, I'd like to know more about the THREE-arrows lost or destroyed on the hunt, what happened?
Always entertaining... thanks for sharing TBM.
"Has ANY Yankees garnered such attention? Hmmm."
This hunt was far more entertaining than the 'Derek Jeter farewell tour'!!
I still think you are a goofball. Perhaps that would change if I had the pleasure to meet you in person. However, I am impressed and congratulate you on your trip.
He might be a goofball, but he certainly provides a lot of entertainment! I'm a fan personally . . .
The main difference in turkey hunting and elk hunting is that turkey hunting is still Fun after you shoot one.
Did I miss a picture of this bull? Ok, swallow, congrats on your accomplishment! It's not for the faint hearted is it? You need to thank all those good people on here that helped you with advice. Warning, elk hunting can ruin all other types of bowhunting. I used to love deer hunting to no end. Then I went elk hunting! Pretty much ruined deer hunting for me. My hats off to you for getting an elk. Your still a dufus. :)
Spot on Jack Harris about #2. Not many like that any more.
Still waiting for pics as well...Not that I don't believe TBM, but under the circumstances need a little validation before I get too excited. Congrats...
Pics are in the "its time" thread.
TBM, if you don't mind me asking, roughly what did your hunt cost you? Tag, food, gas, etc. Always nice to split cost with someone else but nice to know if going solo.
TBM - "He dropped down in a dip and all I could see was horns bobbing up and down and I couldn't take my eyes off of them. My first arrow went between his horns. I burgled him up..that was awesome."
TBM - "I just started flinging arrows. One or two hit the bull and he looked hurt pretty bad but kept on going . Not much blood but a fair amount."
Here's a couple of the arrows that might have been lost or destroyed.
Congrats TBM way to make it happen.
Had TBM not given WEB a load of crap for taking a bad shot and losing his elk, then turn around and do the same thing a week later I would be a fan. A little humility and self critique goes a long way.
Things can happen fast and the mental checklist gets tossed. This might be an opportunity for TBM to outline what went wrong and provide some useful info that could help others should they call in a bull and the green monster crawls up their ***.
Congrats on the bull and successful hunt.
Jack
Everything I ever read is also locked up in my vault......but I forgot the combination..........
bnt40...food can be cheaper than eating at home if you want it to be. Buy cheap can food and make your own energy bars and jerky. Purify water and don't drink anything else. My tags were over $1000 and included fishing upland birds and deer. Elk only would have been 600 I think. I burned around $200 a day in gas going out and back...$1000 for the trip. I ran around about 50 miles a day while out there...didn't have too but did. I profited about 300 pounds of quality meat at 4 dollors per pound. Never paid to sleep anywhere. Look at how many trips and how much time it takes to purchass 300 pounds of beef and it could be a wash cost wise.
When he wrote about his case of elk fever, that was a case of humility. A lot of folks can't admit they've gotten excited and blown a shot.
$4 a pound is cheap for elk meat, not to mention the enjoyment and experience.
You also proved something to a lot of people who have given you crap...me included. :-)
Writer, thanks for manning up. Some are way more due to do the same.
Ah yes, because I am almost positive that you Barney fife bow hunters only carry one arrow in your quiver. Get real. I'm Convinced a bunch of you haters are posers!!
Pics? Or did I miss some?
pics are in the "it's time" thread.
" pics are in the " It's Time " thread "
And in Steve's memory forever !
Ok, a little constructive criticism here. TBM you need to do a little better job with the pics. Like a full body shot, a frontal shot showing the whole rack (if possible), and a selfie with elk behind you would also be nice. Memories fade but pics last.
Another fact is the Simmons shot slam through the shoulder blade...not muscle...BLADE and went clean through the elk at a fairly sharp angle. That's next level penetration.
You need a little help with your Alabama math. A 2 mile trip one way is 4 miles round trip. 4 trips =16 miles.
"Another fact is the Simmons shot slam through the shoulder blade...not muscle...BLADE and went clean through the elk at a fairly sharp angle. That's next level penetration."
I noticed that shoulder hit.TBM,did it make two holes?
That's the power of a heavy arrow.
($1000 license + $1000 gas) / 300lbs = $6.67/lb. Just saying.
Still a value.
Where's the pic of the bull?
Give us a compete run down of how the shot went down please. Several different threads on this and it is hard to follow all the awesome details like set up, arrow choice, location cover, BH choice and shot distance, angle and trajectory etc. You know like a book and the story puts you on the edge of your seat.
Made two holes...broke the arrow. Found the fletch end but not the bh end. Broke about 4 inches below the fletch. Appeared to have penetrated mid ways of the fletch but I thought it was a complete pass through. Arrow didn't look like it even slowed down when it hit. Arrow was not in the bull. I looked.
Congrats on a successful hunt TBM!
I had a feeling all along you were a hunter and not just a keyboard ranger....
Good job TBM! Send along as many different recipes for crow as you can come up with. Some of these guys need a double helping.
Thanks TBM. You did well.
For those of you who are asking here are the two pics TBM has shared with us so far.....I hope he posts some more.
For those of you who are asking here are the two pics TBM has shared with us so far.....I hope he posts some more.
Another fact was how little the elk smelled. I had heard story's of how bulls stunk so bad and how the meat was not eatable. My bull was young and produced some very good meat. I don't see how a cow could be any better.
I have more pics loaded on the computer but can't log on to bowsite. The access number will not get us logged on. Going to try and find all my log in information and get the pics posted tomorrow.
Another fact is how well the foot prep worked for anti blister prevention. At times when coming down hill with a load there would be so much pressure on my heel it would get hot, but the though skin held up. There is little dought that had I not went barefoot fir so long my heel would have blistered on the bottom. I even hunted in tennis shoes a day or two to try and let my boots dry. Soaking wet feet almost every day, cheap boots and shoes...still no blisters or foot pain. The prep worked. I don't care if you work in a suit and tie in New yark City, walk to work barefoot and it will pay off.
I know I made mention of killing my food while hunting. I don't know for sure how that would have worked out but I had numerous chances at mountain chickens, a single chance at a snow shoe and I could have caught a bunny with my hand. I saw several fish in the stream but never fished. I do regret not taking some cheap aluminum arrows and more judos. Those mountain chickens looked tasty.
Good job Turkey Bowmaster! My first elk hunt and kill with a bow was a spike last year, which was legal in my unit. I didn't have the patience to keep hunting for a big one and wanted validation that I could kill something with my bow. I could not believe how much more tender it was than all the other bulls and cows I had shot before. I know some guys that prefer shooting a calf. Now I can see why. Less meet, but best quality! Thanks for the entertainment! I'll bet the elk thought you smelled like one of them!